Category Archives: Location

Photo Gallery: BIGSOUND Live 2012 – Day 2

Photographer: Cynthia Lee

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Bigsound, Brisbane, Cynthia Lee, Photos

Live Review: Shihad @ The Hi-Fi, Melbourne – 6 September 2012

Review by Ben Connolly
Boldness is not generally an adjective jumping to mind when you think of Kiwi band Shihad. With its skinny black-jeans clad legs planted firmly in the safe melodic-tinged rock scene pushed forth as the genre de jour of the late 90s and early 00s, you’d hardly seek out their albums to push boundaries or explore sonic adventures. Even more so in the past few years, where they’ve rotated around the all-too-familiar downward spiral of record-promote-tour-hope for relevance-rinse-repeat: it’s hardly a recipe for the cutting edge.

There is, however, an impressive boldness with the simple honesty with which they’ve approached their career crossroads moment: shunning the best-ofs and karaoke tour of their past glories in favour of a 38-song full career retrospective (a completist’s wet dream), a fly-on-the-wall cinema doco exposing the bands lowest moment of changing their name in a doomed attempt to storm the US market, and topping it all off with a solid live whip-around aimed squarely at the true believers.
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Ben Connolly, Live Review, Melbourne, Review

Photo Gallery: BIGSOUND Live 2012 – Day 1

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Event: BIGSOUND Live 2012 – Day 1 – 12 September 2012

Artist: The Good Ship
www.awakeniam.com – Awaken I Am
www.strangers.net.au/ – Strangers
www.snowdroppers.com – The Snowdroppers
www.heroesforhire.com.au – Heroes For Hire
www.facebook.com/violentsoho – Violent Soho
Velociraptor – www.velociraptor.com.au

Date: 12 September 2012

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Bigsound, Brisbane, Photos, Stuart Blythe

Live Review: Apocalyptica @ The Hi-Fi, Sydney – 31 August 2012

Review by Meghan Player
It’s been a long time coming for fans of Finnish band Apocalyptica to finally catch the band on Australian soil for the first time in their 16+ year career – and it was well worth the wait.

As the band take to the stage to a roar from the local crowd, the first thing you must remember is to forget everything you know about ‘traditional’ metal bands and their sound. Apocalyptica not only redefines what makes a great metal band, but the manner in how the sound is achieved.

Arming themselves with cellos [yes, cellos], the band whip through melodic frenzies of gorgeous noise – willing the crowd into an incredible sense of awe. The head banging, hair twirling spectacle doesn’t cease through the bands entire set – never disengaging, never boring, never predictable.
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Live Review, Meghan Player, Review, Sydney

Live Review: Kate Miller-Heidke @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane with The Beards – 26 August 2012

Review by Lauren Sherritt
There is little more satisfying on a Sunday evening than experiencing some really top-notch live music, and the show put on by Kate Miller-Heidke and The Beards at Brisbane’s Hi-Fi last night did more than fill this need. Theatrical, funny, poignant and breathtaking, the two acts complemented each other perfectly to create an evening of bar-raising, quality music memories.

The Beards, who relatively shot (they are on their third studio album and already held a significant cult following) to fame late last year with song You Should Consider Having Sex with a Bearded Man, took to the stage first and blew the audience away. While at first appearance they might almost come off as a parody band, The Beards should not fool anyone with their all-about-the-beard appearance; these guys are seriously talented musicians.
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Brisbane, Lauren Sherritt, Live Review, Review

Live Review: SLASH @ Brisbane Riverstage – 23 August 2012

Thursday night saw the return of SLASH to our shores as he kicked off his Apocalyptic Love Australian tour.

Leading the way on stage, charismatic Myles Kennedy greets the Brisbane audience closely followed by SLASH ringing out the first notes of ‘Halo’. ‘Nightrain’ and ‘Ghost’ follow and the nights direction is set firmly on a collision course with pure rock & roll… and the crowd’s loving it!

For fans wanting an onslaulght of riffage, SLASH was more than happy to oblige with standout moments throughout the entire set but special mention to’ Slither’, Godfather Theme and ‘Paradise City’.

Bassist Todd Kerns was also given center stage to expose his vocal skills and quickly riles up the crowd with a explosive and frenzied ‘Doctor Alibi’ and ‘You’re Crazy’, kicking the crowd into top gear.

But it’s Myles Kennedy; who has proved to be a valuable band member over the years, his vocal talents and showmanship complimenting SLASH perfectly; that keeps the Slash swagger and groove on course, delivering a stellar performance.

Finishing off the night with crowd favourite ‘Paradise City’, a shirtless SLASH gave the crowd his best Chuck Berry duckwalk, coupled with yet another display of his guitar prowess. And Myles made more than a few punters happy by jumping into the pit, getting up close and personal with some eager fans.

Slash is firmly cemented in the book of guitar legends and given his performance at Brisbane Riverstage on Thursday night he will continue to be high on our radars for many a year to come.

Artist: SLASH
Venue: Brisbane Riverstage
Date: 23 August 2012

Click here to see all the photos from the night!

Setlist
Halo
Nightrain
Ghost
Standing in the Sun
Mr. Brownstone
Back From Cali
Beggars & Hangers-On
Rocket Queen
Not for Me
Doctor Alibi
You’re Crazy
Crazy Life
No More Heroes
Starlight
Guitar Solo / Godfather Theme
Anastasia
Sweet Child O’ Mine
You’re a Lie
Slither

Encore:
By the Sword
Paradise City

Brisbane, Live Review, Review, Stuart Blythe

Live Review: The Smashing Pumpkins @ Hisense Arena, Melbourne – 2nd August 2012

Review by Billy Geary
With the annual Splendour in the Grass festival letting loose in Bryon Bay, the sideshow circus around the country was in full swing. Co-headlining Splendour was the infamous Smashing Pumpkins, lead by vocalist/guitarist Billy Corgan with a new album in tow. In the lead up to Thursday night at Hisense Arena, there had been much speculation regarding the Pumpkins’ set. Corgan had previously stated that the band’s new album Oceania was to be played in full, aided by a ‘ground breaking’ spherical projection. The most striking thing upon entering the venue was how empty it seemed, with almost the entire top-level empty, as well as large chunks of the floor.

However, as the first few chords of ‘Quasar’ were played it became obvious for those who were there, that it would be a great show. Midway through Oceania, the more casual Smashing Pumpkins fans were getting impatient, with constant calls to play their old stuff. This only inspired the band to work harder, with Corgan visibly loving the opportunity to showcase the new record. Tracks like ‘The Chimera’ and ‘Pinwheels’ worked extremely well, with the former drawing the first large cheer for the night. Mention must be made of the image projection onto the giant sphere above the band as they played Oceania, it was a welcome addition that really gave an extra dimension to the songs that most weren’t too familiar with.
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Billy Geary, Live Review, Melbourne, Review